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Some Viral Videos of Texas Flooding Might Be Fake. Here’s How to Spot Them.

CENTRAL TEXAS, JUL 6 – The false rescue story spread rapidly amid July 4 floods in Central Texas, complicating relief efforts as officials confirmed at least 89 deaths and over 40 missing.

  • The Kerr County Lead published a story on July 6 about two girls found alive, clinging to a tree during central Texas flash floods that began July 4 and killed over 100 people.
  • The initial report spread due to multiple eyewitness accounts and a viral volunteer video but was rapidly debunked and retracted after Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha declared it 100% false.
  • The floods triggered widespread misinformation amplified by social media, including compiled videos from unrelated disasters, as creators engaged in 'engagement farming' to boost views during heightened public attention.
  • Volunteer Cord Shiflet apologized in a later video saying he shared unverified information from officials and expressed regret for sensationalizing the story amid community hopes for positive news.
  • The incident highlights challenges journalists face with verifying information in disasters, underscoring expert calls for skepticism online and the need for newsrooms to review errors after spreading emotionally charged misinformation.
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Weatherford Democrat broke the news in on Sunday, July 6, 2025.
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